Ladakh protests: Sonam Wangchuk leads Leh candle march, seeks inquiry report into 2025 violence

LEH: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday led a candle march in Leh as part of a month-long programme to remember those who died in the violent clashes in Ladakh last year, while demanding the release of the inquiry commission’s report into the September 2025 violence this month.Wangchuk said August 24 to September 24 would be observed to commemorate the events of September 24, 2025, when protests over statehood and inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent.A BJP office was set on fire during the unrest and at least four people were killed in police action that followed.Speaking on Monday, Wangchuk said the inquiry commission’s report should be released this month, arguing that the delay was affecting public confidence. He also said a “decisive meeting” between the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Centre was expected in the first week of September to discuss Ladakh’s demands."This entire month, from August 24 to September 24, is being observed to honour and remember the events of 24 September 2025, which was a dark day. It was a day when five of our young men were martyred, and many others were injured, left disabled, or critically wounded. We began with a small candle march; it was kept small because His Holiness the Dalai Lama is currently in Ladakh. Once he departs, we will commemorate this month with much greater intensity," Wangchuk said.Recalling last year’s protests, he said Ladakh had been seeking its demands for six years and that a hunger strike began on September 10 after delays in addressing them."Regarding the situation over the past year: Ladakh has been demanding its rights for six years, but faced with delays and reluctance, people began a hunger strike on September 10 to make their voices heard peacefully. By the 15th day, when participants had to be hospitalised in critical condition, the public became deeply distressed and angry; circumstances arose, or were perhaps engineered, that led to some violence, and there is a pressing need for an investigation into this."Wangchuk demanded that the report of the inquiry commission, headed by a retired judge, be made public, ANI reported."We are also calling for action regarding the Inquiry Commission led by a retired judge; a full year has passed, yet no decision has been reached. This delay is eroding public confidence. We hope that the Inquiry Commission's report will be released this month. Regarding the decisions concerning Ladakh's demands, discussed on May 22, no subsequent meeting has taken place to date. We hope that a decisive meeting will take place in the first week of September, as promised; otherwise, we will have to make our voices heard much more loudly, albeit peacefully," Wangchuk said.Wangchuk, who had spearheaded the protests along with the LAB and KDA, was detained for 170 days in Jodhpur Jail following the violence and was released in March 2026.The LAB and KDA have been demanding inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Centre, meanwhile, has proposed that the Union Territory administration constitute an Autonomous Hill Development Council in each of Ladakh’s seven districts under a framework based on Article 371.Ladakh’s administrative map expanded from two districts to seven in April, when Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass were notified.The next round of talks with the Union Home Ministry is expected in September.(With agency inputs)Stay updated with the latest Srinagar news. Download the TOI App.